Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-26

ooOo ~ ho hiiii PAoPoiiy III IIc SHOUT
ders. Now is your opportunity, should
it suit you, to purchase a splendid
article, and cheap too. You are lucky
sir!"
Sally now advanced with the desired
coat. Wilhelm had hardly had time
to get his arms fairly in the sleeves be.
fore Aaron Meyer called out
'fWonderful-it fits like a glove.'-
and Sally shouted in ecstasies of de.
light
Excellent, excellent! Could not
have fitted better if made to orderr'
The poor clerk wiped the perspira-
ration from his brow The cries OF
admiration from the pair who stood by
greatly increased his agitation. Meyer
pushed him before the looking-glass.
Schulze's heart throbbed wildly, What
sight! The first new overcoat fol-
six years! He turned to the right, to
the left, and then swung himself round
quickly and looked in. the glass over
his shoulder. He could scarcely be-
Heve his eyes-the overcoat fitted him
splendidly!
1.-The price," he asked at last, and
waited for the answer with an anxious
face.
''Thirty-two marks" answered the
outftter
''IhirtY-two marks!'
Wilhelm Schulze grew pale Thirty
two-that was seven marks more than
Minona had reckoned. But the SPLEEN
did overcoat! Wilhelm crossed his
arms and stepped backwards and for
wards before the looking-glass. He
had already accustomed himself to the
thought of the possession of such a
treasure. He placed both hands in his
pockets. All the blood in his veins
seemed to rush to his heart at once.
He felt some object in the right-hand
outside pocket-he seized it. 1t was a
pocket book-he believed it was-a
well-filled pocket-book too.
Banker Cohen sent it back-wore
it only one day" rushed through his
brain.
''How much did you say the price
WASP" he stammered.
'sThirty-five marks" replied Aaron
Meyer
':Thirty-fve marks?' You said just
now"
Listen, my friend, interrupted the
outfitter; sit happens that | have al
ready promised the overcoat to one of
my friends. It is too dear for you,
look out another; there are plenty
more there, and cheaper too"
The clerk passed his hand through
his hair; he had just felt the book in
his pocket.
mo, no." gasped Schulze; Il will
take tit suits me. Here is the
money!"
With trembling hand he paid the
thirty-fve marks, and then, in his haste
and excitement, left behind him his
old OvercOat and the valuable fur col
lar, and hurried from the shop to his
home, clutching all the way with his
right hand the pocket wherein the sup
posed treasure lay.
Painting, he rushed so abruptly into
the room that Mrs. Minona, who was
industriously engaged in endeavoring
to turn one of her husbands old yelve-
teen waistcoats into a covering for a
hat, was so frightened that she stuck
the needle into her knee.
For Heavens sake, Wilhelm, tell
me what has happened! Has any one
robbed you?" she asked.
Wilhelm Schulze did not answer.
Exhausted, he sank into chair and
gasped for breath A few minutes
passed thus; and then he sprang up,
rushed to the door, locked and bolted
it.
''What is the matter?" cried MinOna,
viewing her husband with anxious
eyes; and then she observed the new
overcOat. ''Ah, said she, sitting down
by him, 1.-the new overcoat perhaps"
Wilhelm Schulze, having partially
recovered his usual composure, now
drew forth the pocket-book, and in
hurried words impaired the great Sc
cret to his wife.
''But is not that crime?" she broke
in.
Nonsense" replied he-''I have
bought the overcoat with all that is on
and in it, and paid for it. The rich
banker can endure the loss, and we
can well use the money"
''How much is it then?" inquired his
wife somewhat curiously.
Wilhelm Schulze opened the pocket
book, which to him looked already old
and worn out; but it was manifest
that it was full of something. With
trembling hands he proceeded to I'M
fold the contents, and in Imagination
even now saw hundred-mark notes
before him. His breathing nearly
ceased from his extraordinary agita-
ton.
Alas, what a bitter deception. 1t
was not bank-notes, but a hundred
copies of the same advertisement which
Schulze and his wife. had read that
morning over their coffee-viz.-
Selling off! Selling off! :! Aaron
Meyer is selling off twenty-five thou
sand splendid overooats at the ridi-
culously cheap price of twenty to forty
marks; Come, see, and buy!"
Buffalo's Highest-Priced Lawyer.